The Muhammad case, after being drawn out for months and months, was brought to a quick conclusion after the Times uncovered a witness, an attorney herself, who overheard Grantstein’s boyfriend bragging about how Muhammad was “dirty” and Grantstein would never allow Muhammad to play college basketball.

The NCAA fired Abigail Grantstein, the lead investigator in the Shabazz Muhammad case. (AP Photo)

The conversation happened on an Aug. 7 commuter flight, only eight days after the NCAA had requested documentation from UCLA and the Muhammad family. The incident came a month and a-half before such documentation was delivered to the NCAA and almost three months before Muhammad or his parents, Ron Holmes and Faye Muhammad, were interviewed.

Just three days after the flight, the lawyer documented what she overheard in an email to Dennis Thomas, a former chairman of the NCAA's infractions committee, UCLA officials and later to Muhammad’s attorney, Robert Orr.

The NCAA did not act on the witness’ account until after the Times’ report on Nov. 14 detailed how Grantstein had prejudged the case.

Two days later, the NCAA cleared Muhammad to play once his family paid back about $1,600 to a family friend for travel on three unofficial recruiting trips. He missed only three games.

Muhammad – one of the top two prospects in the Class of ’12 – is averaging 17.8 points and 4.8 rebounds in eight games with the Bruins heading into Saturday night’s game against Fresno State.